Embark on a journey to the ends of the world, in the footsteps of the lost city of Tenochtitlan. The Quai Branly awakens the founding myth of the Aztec Empire by unearthing the fabulous treasure of Mexica during a marvelous exhibition. What was once just a fallen temple that fell into the hands of the Spanish, existing only through the letters of Hernán Cortès and the writings of conquistador Bernal Díaz del Castillo, regains its former glory with the unearthing of this forgotten site miraculously preserved in the depths of the bustling city of Mexico for hundreds of years. It was only in 1978 that workers stumbled upon the remains of the Templo Mayor; a chance discovery inaugurating half a century of archaeological excavations now revealed.

Rich in more than 500 vestiges, sculptures and ritual objects, this major exhibition invites us to unravel the mysteries of one of the greatest pre-Columbian civilizations by bringing together two original codices in shimmering colors, the skeleton of a puma given as an offering, human remains, but also all kinds of presents in stone, shell, metal and turquoise. A true treasure that could never see the light of day again and remain forever the hidden wonder of Mexico City.

Did you know?
The Aztecs were particularly fond of human sacrifice. Practiced regularly at the Templo Mayor, this ultimate proof of self-sacrifice was traditionally done by cardiectomy, a practice which consists of extracting the still beating heart of the sacrificed person. It is difficult to estimate the exact number of victims, but some chroniclers of the time put forward totally unrealistic figures, going so far as to count 84,000 martyrs in 4 days!